Help me Bite the Bullet (First Spyderco/$100+ Knife)

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kbirk2003

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Jul 13, 2018
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Hello, I'm relatively new to the forum, but I have been a lurker for quite a while. Just like many of you guys I am looking for the "Perfect EDC Knife". I currently carry a Cold Steel Finn Wolf and before that I carried a Mini AK-47, while both those knives were nice and did everything I needed them to, they lacked the feel of a high quality knife. While looking for a high quality solution I turned to Spyderco. After applying countless filters on Blade HQ and watching way more videos than I should have, I narrowed my decision down to two knives: the Para 3 in s110v or the fan favorite Paramilitary 2 in s110v. I settled on these two knives because they are compatible with the Wise Men Company Fang and Signet Ring, I love wavable knives and the Signet Ring would just add to the fun. I am also planning on purchasing an MXG deep carry clip for the knife I choose to buy. A Sharpmaker would also very closely follow the knife purchase.

Now here are my questions:
-Does the Para 3 carry significantly better than the Paramilitary 2 even though they seem very comparable in size?
-What knife do you prefer and why?
-Is it possible to sharpen s110v on a Sharpmaker without diamond rods?

Don't be afraid to post pictures, we all like to see them.
Now I'm just waiting for the first "Buy Both" reply.

~Koyer
 
The PM3 was never a contender for me because I have large hands. I'd just go with a standard S30V and put those 30$ to use for the clip if you want one, I'd leave the fang and signet ring for when you decide to keep the knife, otherwise it might be a bad investment, most people don't care of the stuff but the Deep Carry Clip is a nice addon if somebody is looking for a 2nd hand PM2.
 
I’m new to Spydercos but I love the para 2, so much in fact I have the bead blast version and a black one. Helluva knife, don’t have any experience with the para 3 tho. I figured s30v was good enough, and from what i hear s110v is one of the more difficult steels to sharpen.
 
b00n said:
The PM3 was never a contender for me because I have large hands. I'd just go with a standard S30V and put those 30$ to use for the clip if you want one, I'd leave the fang and signet ring for when you decide to keep the knife, otherwise it might be a bad investment, most people don't care of the stuff but the Deep Carry Clip is a nice addon if somebody is looking for a 2nd hand PM2.
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Thanks for the response, I want to clarify that I would buy the knife first and then buy the aftermarket parts further down the road one at a time to keep making the knife feel new and exciting again.
 
I would recommend at least holding both before buying.

I have small hands and am not a fan of my Para 3. Too small and not super ergonomic.

If you can’t physically try both, I personally would lean towards buying a Para 2.

I find that out of all of the Spyderco models, the Para 3 (and Manix 2) are the ones that seem to be the most widely loved/hated.
 
I have both I like the para 3 better, I have medium size hands. Unless you have a guided sharpening system, or are really good at free hand I'd pass on the s110v and go with s30v.
 
This year alone, 9 months so far there have been ten different separate models of the para 3 knife offered for sale. That’s ten different steels to choose from. That only happens when people like the knife and keep buying it. People can say things about the clip placement being in a bad position and any number of things, but in the end there probably hasn’t been a knife that has had this many offerings in just 9 months.

I think the pm2 is a damm good looking and almost perfect sized knife. The reason I don’t own one is because where I live the blade length is longer than the law allows. I have purchased six para 3 knives in the last three weeks. It works for me on so many levels and I like the choices avaliable that other brands/models don’t even offer.

You have to hold them both. The knife will let you k ow which one is best for you.
 
Just got a pm3 today. I really love it and really enjoy the smaller handle size and feel. However for your first higher end knife I would buy the pm2 in S30V. Coated or uncoated and whatever handle you want black or camo. If you like tinkering with things you can dissassemble the digicam scales and rite dye them cool colors. Good luck on your descision!
 
kbirk2003 said:
I settled on these two knives because they are compatible with the Wise Men Company Fang and Signet Ring, I love wavable knives and the Signet Ring would just add to the fun
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I don't want to be a downer, but I was really enthusiastic about the Signet Ring and ended up hating it. The ring works as a way to draw the knife out, but once deployed the ring just gets in the way. Keeping a finger in the ring means that you are choked way down on the handle, which throws the ergos off quite a bit with an inch of handle between you and the start of the blade. I found it awkward. Or you use it just to draw, and hold the knife normally. In this case, you have this big honking ring sticking out the back. It does lock the hand in place, but it also can get hung up. Before someone starts talking "impact weapon," bear in mind that the spacer is held on by a couple of tiny screws. It might work great, or it might explode in your hand.

The ironic thing is that I was trying the Ring on a Kahr Delica, where there would have been clearance to move the ring 90 degrees and make it more functional. If the ring is what's drawing you to these models, go with a Karahawk
 
I like both platforms, although personally, when looking to do some serious work I'd likely reach for the PM2 (or a Millie) before I reached for a Para 3 for the extra blade length and handle real estate. I consider the Para 3 to be its nearly equally stout smaller sibling and a great choice for more demanding tasks for when size/weight are especially of concern (or if you just want to carry something smaller). Given this, my PM2 is one of my designated work knives (it doesn't really get carried outside of my job/yard work) while my Para 3's (Cruwear and 4V) are among my "personal carry" knives for the size and weight considerations mentioned above. I love them both equally while realizing I own them for generally different purposes.
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There has been a lot of good information here. I agree that if you can't try them on before you buy, I would steer you to the PM2, but they're both great knives.
 
I recommend the PM2. The PM2 is one of my favorite knives but I did not care for the Para 3 even though I have small-medium sized hands.
 
kbirk2003 said:
Hello, I'm relatively new to the forum, but I have been a lurker for quite a while. Just like many of you guys I am looking for the "Perfect EDC Knife". I currently carry a Cold Steel Finn Wolf and before that I carried a Mini AK-47, while both those knives were nice and did everything I needed them to, they lacked the feel of a high quality knife. While looking for a high quality solution I turned to Spyderco. After applying countless filters on Blade HQ and watching way more videos than I should have, I narrowed my decision down to two knives: the Para 3 in s110v or the fan favorite Paramilitary 2 in s110v. I settled on these two knives because they are compatible with the Wise Men Company Fang and Signet Ring, I love wavable knives and the Signet Ring would just add to the fun. I am also planning on purchasing an MXG deep carry clip for the knife I choose to buy. A Sharpmaker would also very closely follow the knife purchase.

Now here are my questions:
-Does the Para 3 carry significantly better than the Paramilitary 2 even though they seem very comparable in size?
-What knife do you prefer and why?
-Is it possible to sharpen s110v on a Sharpmaker without diamond rods?

Don't be afraid to post pictures, we all like to see them.
Now I'm just waiting for the first "Buy Both" reply.

~Koyer
Click to expand...

For me the Para2 carries better, the Para3 lanyard hole is in the way of a better clip position for carry comfort. I don't use deep carry clips on the Para2, tried it, didn't like it that much. YMMV.

I prefer the Para2 as for me it's blade length, weight, handle size are right in the goldilocks zone.

I don't know where your sharpening skills/equipment is at, though your mention of getting a SM soon suggests you may not have much sharpening experience? Forgive if I'm wrong on that. Point is, S110V may not be your best choice, unless you periodically get it professionally sharpened, and maintain the edge with the SM yourself.

Oh, and, get both :)


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kbirk2003 said:
Hello, I'm relatively new to the forum, but I have been a lurker for quite a while. Just like many of you guys I am looking for the "Perfect EDC Knife". I currently carry a Cold Steel Finn Wolf and before that I carried a Mini AK-47, while both those knives were nice and did everything I needed them to, they lacked the feel of a high quality knife. While looking for a high quality solution I turned to Spyderco. After applying countless filters on Blade HQ and watching way more videos than I should have, I narrowed my decision down to two knives: the Para 3 in s110v or the fan favorite Paramilitary 2 in s110v. I settled on these two knives because they are compatible with the Wise Men Company Fang and Signet Ring, I love wavable knives and the Signet Ring would just add to the fun. I am also planning on purchasing an MXG deep carry clip for the knife I choose to buy. A Sharpmaker would also very closely follow the knife purchase.

Now here are my questions:
-Does the Para 3 carry significantly better than the Paramilitary 2 even though they seem very comparable in size?
-What knife do you prefer and why?
-Is it possible to sharpen s110v on a Sharpmaker without diamond rods?

Don't be afraid to post pictures, we all like to see them.
Now I'm just waiting for the first "Buy Both" reply.

~Koyer
Click to expand...

I’m not sure they make a Signet Ring for the Para3. I know they do for the para2. In order to wave it you will also have to buy the Wise Men fang for the para2.

You could touch up s110v on the sharpmaker but its going to be virtually impossible to reprofile or bring the edge back from dull. You have to touch the knife up every once in a while so it doesn’t fet dull.

The issue with the sharpaker is that the widest angle setting is 40 degrees. That means if the knife is wider than 20 degrees per side you are not going to be hitting the apex while using the sharpmaker angle jigs. Good luck wearing the shoulders down so you can hit the apex even with the diamond rods.
 
I recently went through the same problem as you, and I ended up buying both. I have large-ish hands, and the PM3 gives me a fairly decent 4 finger grip with the choil. The PM2 is spot on.

I haven't really gotten a chance to work them, as i've been stuck doing paperwork since i got them, but i can say that I think i prefer the PM3, despite its size.

What i'm saying is, buy both.
 
-You said help to bite the bullet,
Or did you mean help to get
Spyder Bit :cool:
...Once bitten, they're quite contagious.
Good Luck in whichever model you decide on :thumbsup:
B.T.B.
 
Depends on what your using your knife for.
For light everyday use I would choose the smaller blade. Lighter, smaller in pocket but still capable. Who cares if it’s a three finger grip.

For anything that could include prolonged cutting or more demanding work than opening boxes and beef jerky packs, I would suggest the PM2. Even for simply tearing down boxes I would suggest a 3.5 blade. If I were only buying one, it would be the PM2.

The answer really IS to get two knives:D
Whether or not they should both be Paras is up to you.:)
 
Can't go wrong with either of them. If you can, I'd go to a store where you can handle both of them and then you can decide. Personally, I'd go with the Para 3. It is legal in more places due to shorter blade, doesn't take up as much room in pocket.
 
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